Metal casket and vault protection device



March 14, 1961 J. F. TATUM METAL. CASKET AND VAULT PROTECTION DEVICE Filed April 15 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3/ INVENTOR J: F 222 Zu m ATTORNEYS March 14, 1961 J. F, TATUM 2,974,389

METAL CASKET AND VAULT PROTECTION DEVICE Filed April 15, 1958 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L\ k .5 368 ga i (44 44 44 444 4: 409 4-4 408 25a Zea INVENTOR J1 Ta 2 m 249 2 9 BY M ATTORNEYS lVIETAL CASKET AND VAULT PROTECTION DEVICE Joseph F. Tatum, 2600 Mimosa Lane, Hattiesburg,

Filed Apr. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 728,661

1 Claim. 27-1) The present invention relates to metal casket and vault protection devices, and particularly to devices for reducing or preventing electrolytic destruction of metal burial containers when buried in the ground.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sacrifical protecting metal supported on burial caskets and burial vaults to reduce or prevent electrolytic destructive damage to the metal from which the casket or vault is formed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support structure for securing sacrifical metal blocks to burial vaults and caskets with the sacrifical metal arranged in a decorative manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide attractive decorative blocks of sacrifical metal with means for supporting the metal blocks exteriorly of a vault or casket.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a prospective view of a burial vault with the invention attached thereto.

' Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the burial vault illustrating one of the sacrifical blocks.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssection taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssection taken along the line 55 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 of another modified form of the invention taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6,'looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fgure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3 of still another modified form of the invention.

2,974,389 Patented Mar. 14, 1961 The casket or burial vault 20 is equipped with conventional handles 21, a top 22, side wall 23, and end wall 24. The casket or burial vault 20 is provided with a plurality of sacrifical metal blocks 25 normally formed of magnesium and arranged in spaced apart relation on the side walls 23 and end walls 24 of the casket or vault 20.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, the casket or vault 20 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending threaded studs 26 having their inner ends welded at 27 to the casket or vault 20. A circular neoprene or rubber gasket 28 is provided with a central opening 29 to engage over the threaded stud 26 and is positioned against the casket or vault 20 in encompassing relation to the threaded stud 26.

The block 25 is provided with a central threaded axial bore 30 and the block 25 is mounted to the casket or vault 20 by threading the bore 39 onto the stud 26 with the gasket 28 maintaining the block 25 spaced outwardly slightly from the casket or vault 20. Studs 26 provides an electrical connection between sacrifical metal block 25 and the casket or vault 20.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the block 25 is normally provided with a decorative form and/or surface decorations to enhance the appearance of the casket or vault 20.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the casket or vault 2G is provided with a plurality of studs 26a threaded at its outer end and connected to the casket or vault 20 by welding 27:: with the stud 26a extending outwardly therefrom.

A sacrifical metal magnesium block 25a is provided with a central bore 30a through which the stud 26a ex- Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 3 of another modified form of the invention.

Figure 11 is a View similar to Figure 3 of still another modified form of the invention.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 12-42 of Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of a casket or burial vault illustrating a'modified design of sacrifical metal block.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary corner elevation of a casket or burial vault illustrating a sacrifical metal block enclosing the corner.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates genwith the invention.

tends. A nut 31 engages the threaded end of the stud 26a and clamps the block 25a against a neoprene or rubber gasket 28a. The studs 26a provide an electrical connection between sacrifical metal blocks 25a and the casket or vault 20.

An ornamental cap '32 has a central opening 33 to encompass the nut 31 and has a threaded bore '34 centrally arranged therein to threadahly engage the threaded end of the stud 26a. The cap 32 provides a decorative cover for the stud 26a and nut 31, as can be best seen in Figure 4.

In Figures 6 and 7 another modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the casket or vault 20 is provided with a plurality of pairs of L-shaped brackets 35 arranged in spaced apart opposed relation. Each of the L-shaped brackets 35 are provided with an inwardly extending set screw 36 extending toward the casket or vault 20 with its inner end spaced therefrom.

A sacrifical metal magnesium block 25b is cast on a metal strap 37 centrally thereof with the strap 37 having each end extending outwardly terminating in a portion 38 engaged beneath the L-shaped brackets 35 between the inner end of the set screws as and the casket or vault 29. The strap 37 is perforated at 39 so that the sacrifical metal extends therethrough in the casting to intimately lock the strap 37 and the block 2512 together and provide a permanent low resistance electrical contact between the sacrifical block 2512 and the metal strap 37.

The block 2512 is provided with a gasket 23b formed 'of neoprene or rubber positioned between the block 25b A further modification is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 wherein the casket or vault 20 is provided with a plura ity of sacrifical metal magnesium blocks 250. The block 25c is cast on a strap 370 formed the same as the strap 37 with perforations 39c arranged therein. The ends 38c 3 of the strap 37c are welded to the casket or vault and generally rectangular caps 400 are engaged thereover.

The caps 400 are provided with inwardly extending detents 41 to engage the ends 38c of the strap 37c to secure the caps 40c thereto. A neoprene or rubber gasket 28c is positioned between the casket or vault 20 and the block 250, as can be seen in Figures 8 and 9.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 10, wherein the casket or vault 20 is provided with a plurality of threaded studs 26d and each stud 26d supports a sacrifical metal magnesium block a having a central bore 30d engaging over the threaded stud 26d and a somewhat larger bore 33d arranged to receive a nut 31d which is threaded onto the stud 26d to secure the block 25d to the vault Ztl against a neoprene or rubber gasket 28d.

A plug 42 is positioned in the bore 33d to cover the exposed end of the threaded shaft 26d and the nut 31d.

Another modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 wherein the casket or vault 2.0 is provided with a plurality of sacrifical metal magnesium blocks 25c each of which is cast around a cylindrical transversely extending metal rod 37c. Each end of the rod 37e is provided with a relatively short axial bore 390, for reasons to be assigned.

The casket or vault 20 is provided with a plurality of pairs of upstanding ears 35a, and the ears 35c are provided with axially aligned threaded bores 43. A set screw 36a extends through each of the threaded bores 43 and has a reduced diameter inner end portion 44 engaged in the bore 39a in each of the rods 372.

A generally rectangular cap we encompasses each of the ears 35a and the set screws 36a and is secured to the cars 3512 by inwardly extending detents 41a, as best shown in Figure 12.

In Figure 13, a casket or vault 20 having a cover 22 is provided with a sacrifical metal magnesium block 25; having the shape of a cross. The block 25 may be secured to the top 22 of the casket or vault 20 by any of the attaching structures illustrated in Figures 1 through 12.

In Figure 14, a casket or vault 20g having a side wall 23g and an end wall 24g is provided with a sacrifical metal magnesium block 25g arranged to decoratively encompass the corner of the casket or vault 20g. The block 25g may be secured to the casket or vault 20g by any of the fastening structures illustrated in Figures 1 through 12.

It should be understood that the term burial container used in the claim is generic to a burial vault and a burial casket.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous other structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a metallic burial container, a plurality of sacrifical metal blocks, a neoprene gasket interposed between each of said blocks and said container, and metallic means securing said blocks to said container with said gasket spacing said container and said blocks apart, the entire surface of each block except that adjacent said gasket being exposed to the surrounding media, said means for securing said container and said blocks together including a plurality of threaded studs welded to said container, and said blocks each having a threaded bore engaged over said threaded studs, the outer surface of each block being ornamented.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 902,758 Nielson Nov. 3, 1908 1,799,586 Foster Apr. 7, 1931 2,454,956 Young Nov. 30, 1948 2,762,771 Preiser Sept. 11, 1956 2,856,342 Van der Hoeven et al. Oct. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,360 Belgium Apr. 15, 1954 

